Christina Hall and Josh Hall are getting divorced. Here's a timeline of their whirlwind relationship and sudden split.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images
- Christina and Josh Hall are getting divorced less than three years after they got married.
- Josh was Christina's third husband, as she was previously married to two other HGTV stars.
- Christina said Josh transferred $35,000 the day after she told him she was filing for divorce.
When Christina Hall celebrated her marriage to Josh Hall in September 2022, she said she was more certain than ever her life was on track.
In a deleted Instagram post, Christina wrote, "Everything in life has led me to where I am right now, which is exactly where I want to be."
Less than three years after they were legally wed, the Halls have both filed for divorce, and Christina has deleted nearly all traces of Josh from her social media.
Business Insider broke down the timeline of their relationship and sudden separation.
"Josh Hall has no comment about this matter," a spokesperson for Josh told BI when contacted for this story. "He hopes to resolve these matters in private, not through the press."
A representative for Christina did not respond to a request for comment from BI.
Christina and Josh first became romantically involved in the spring of 2021
According to US Weekly, Christina and Josh first met at a real-estate conference sometime in the late 2010s, but they didn't start dating until the spring of 2021.
Christina was married to her "Flip or Flop" costar, Tarek El Moussa, from 2009 to 2018, and they had two children together — Taylor, 13, and Brayden, 8 — before they separated in 2016. She married Ant Anstead at the end of 2018, and they welcomed their son Hudson, 4, together before they split in September 2020.
Christina and Josh did not initially announce they were dating, but she shared a photo they took together in March 2021 on her Instagram in March of the following year, confirming they were an item by sometime that spring.
Page Six photographed them together publicly in July 2021. On the same day the photos were published, Christina addressed their relationship in an Instagram post that she has since deleted, saying she wanted to keep it private from the media.
Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
"I met Josh when I wasn't in a state of fear or fight-or-flight," she captioned the post. "When we met this past spring, the synchronicities hit us so hard and fast they were impossible to ignore. I felt immediately crazy protective over him and wanted to keep him for myself and get to know each other before the tornado (media attention) hit."
"We decided whats in the past, is in the past. We aren't looking at all the nonsense online," she added. "So yes 'another relationship' and guess what. I'm 38 – I'll do what I want."
The couple continued their relationship in the public eye, announcing in September 2021 that they were engaged with Instagram photos Christina shared, which she has also now deleted, from a trip they took to Mexico.
They shared that they got married in April 2022
Christina and Josh continued to share peeks at their life together on social media throughout the rest of 2021.
Representatives for the Halls confirmed Christina and Josh were married on April 5, 2022, after Christina changed her last name on social media from Haack, her maiden name, to Hall.
However, according to documents reviewed by BI, both Josh and Christina listed their marriage date as October 6, 2021, when they filed for divorce in July, indicating they were married before publicly sharing the news.
The Halls bought a $12 million mansion in Newport Beach, California, in May 2022, which Christina called their "long-term family home" in a since-deleted Instagram.
In September of the same year, they celebrated their marriage with a second wedding in Maui, Hawaii, surrounded by family and friends.
Josh became more involved in Christina's professional life throughout their relationship
In March 2022, Christina announced on Instagram in a now-deleted post that she and Josh were forming their own production company, Unbroken Productions. The name appeared to be a nod to Josh's Instagram, which has the handle @unbrokenjosh.
The company took over production of "Christina on the Coast" starting with season four and produced "Christina in the Country," both of which air on HGTV. Josh has appeared in both shows.
Speaking to BI in July 2023, Christina said it was an adjustment to be a producer because she had worked with her previous production company for a decade.
"It was a lot more work for me than anything in the past because we're co-producers. It's a lot more off-camera work than I'm used to," she said. "It's gonna be worth it, but it was a hard year."
Then, on May 15, HGTV announced Christina and Josh would star in a new series called "The Flip Off" with Tarek and his wife, Heather Rae El Moussa.
In its announcement, HGTV said the show would feature couples competing against each other in "a battle to see who can find, buy, renovate, and flip a house for the biggest financial gain."
According to the post, it was set to premiere in 2025. HGTV did not respond to a request for comment on the show's status following the Halls' separation.
The couple separated in July, and Josh filed for divorce first
According to paperwork reviewed by BI on July 17, Josh filed for divorce from Christina on July 12, listing their date of separation as July 8. He requested spousal support in his petition.
Christina deleted several posts that featured Josh from her Instagram when news of their separation went public on July 16, and she submitted a response and her own request for the dissolution of their marriage on July 23.
Christina listed their separation date as July 7, a day earlier than Josh did. Along with her divorce filing, she filed a request for order asking the court to grant her sole access to their Newport Beach home and two properties in Tennessee immediately.
Christina said she wanted sole access to the Newport Beach home primarily to protect her children.
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Feld Entertainment
"I do not want to have a situation where there is a misunderstanding or any conflict, especially in front of my children," she said in her filing.
In the RFO, Christina said that although the Newport Beach home is legally owned by both herself and Josh, it was purchased with money from the sale of her previous residence in Dana Point, California. She added that Josh came to the home unscheduled and "took items" after their separation on July 7 and that he plugged in security cameras Christina intentionally unplugged per a request from his lawyer.
"Josh's attorney sent a letter demanding that I preserve electronic evidence without it being automatically deleted, so I unplugged cameras so the system would not automatically overwrite the hard drive," Christina wrote in her filing. "Each time Josh has returned to the house he has plugged the cameras back in, which would allow him to keep me and my children under surveillance. I object to him having that access into my home."
Christina also asked the court to make Josh return $35,000 to her
Christina said in the same filing that she wanted the court to instruct Josh to return $35,000 that she says he transferred on July 8 "without my authorization" to the personal account he used before their marriage.
"On July 21, 2024, I learned that on July 8, 2024, which is the day after I communicated to Josh that I would be filing for dissolution, Josh contacted my professional property manager via text and stated 'Hi. For June payments, can we please get it sent to a different account when it's time? Thank you,'" she said, attaching a screenshot of the message to the filing.
"The statement 'can we please' is not accurate as I had no personal contact with Josh on July 8, 2024," Christina said in the RFO. "I would not have asked him to send himself my money the day after I told him we are getting divorced."
David Buchan/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images
Christina also addressed Josh's request for spousal support in her RFO.
"I understand that at some point this Court may require that I pay some spousal support to Josh and reasonable attorney's fees to his counsel," she wrote. "However, it is my belief that this is a simple case with straightforward accounting over a short time period, any fees and costs should be minimal."
"Like all hard-working mothers, my life revolves around my children and my work," she continued. "It is my understanding that Josh has his own income and therefore he should not need any spousal support from me. He has sufficient assets of his own to pay his own attorney's fees and costs."
She said she was "shocked and concerned" that he transferred $35,000 of her "separate property money" to his personal account.
"The fact that this is the same date he now alleges to be our date of separation, even though it is actually July 07, 2024, makes it clear why he chose the next day," Christina said. "It makes me wonder what else I am not aware of as it relates to his financial situation and that is why I am having a full forensic accounting performed for the entire term of our marriage."
Christina took to social media to open up about the separation
Christina shared a series of Instagram stories about her separation from Josh on July 25 and 26.
"Over here waiting for the typical Hired PR speech of 'how I was blindsided and how I'm working on myself and I'm taking time to heal at her ranch,'" Christina wrote in her story on July 25. "Meanwhile I'm over here not as nice and quiet as I used to be."
"I have worked my ass off to build this life for myself and my children and anyone who would try and take what they do not deserve/what they did NOT work for should be ashamed. An insecure man with a large ego can sure try and derail you — but 'still I rise,'" she said, appearing to quote Maya Angelou. "For those that aren't aware…divorces do not happen overnight.. & there is always a breaking point. This one is personal."
Christina Hall/Instagram
Then, on July 26, Christina responded to a TMZ article that quoted "a source close to" Josh. The unnamed source told the outlet that Josh was "blindsided" when Christina said she wanted a divorce and that she "stopped speaking to him after a disagreement."
Christina said Josh had not tried to contact her in her post.
"I didn't block him — and I didn't see any missed calls or texts the next day," Christina wrote in her story. "Which happened to be my birthday. Strange – No flowers, no cards, no messages like 'Hope you have a nice birthday.'"
"Something's not adding up here," she added. "But I'm down to keep playing 'Christina Vs. The Victim' as I love this game."
She also responded to a separate TMZ article about the $35,000 Josh transferred to his account. TMZ reported that "a source close to Josh" said he transferred the money to pay bills "for their rental properties, which they co-owned."
Christina said in her story that she was the sole owner of the property in question.
"Pretty sure I bought this before I met you and a 1031 exchange," she wrote. "Handled the bills? Like paid for them with your money? Uhh ya nooo. Def not."
On August 2, Josh shared a photo of himself with his dog on Instagram and said in the post's caption that he would "not publicly badmouth anyone" amid the divorce.
"I prefer privacy, especially during something as life changing as a divorce I did not ask for," he wrote in his caption, appearing to confirm Christina requested their separation. "I will not publicly badmouth anyone as people have families, friends and others who respect and love them. Unfortunately the internet is forever."
"We are real humans, this is our life and I am not here to entertain people I don't know with my private matters," Josh said. "Those details will be handled fairly behind closed doors with our respective counsels in due time. Those who know each of us, know who we are."
Josh also removed posts related to "The Flip Off" from his Instagram.
Josh questioned Christina's narrative in his response
Josh filed a response to Christina's RFO on August 29, though it appears he signed the document on August 15. In the response reviewed by BI, Josh said he was "generally unopposed to the relief Christina has requested.''
But he also accused Christina of using "scorched-earth divorce tactics." In his response, Josh said he did not transfer the $35,000 for his personal use, instead using it to manage their Franklin, Tennessee, property. However, he said a separate property manager handles day-to-day activities at the home.
"I made this request because I needed access to the rental income so I could continue to pay ongoing expenses and responsibilities related to the properties, which I directly handle," he said, pointing to expenses like paying housekeepers or internet services at the home.
He also said he transferred the money after Christina removed his access to their joint American Express account and his access to his LLC account for their rental properties on July 7.
Josh also denied plugging in the cameras at the Newport Beach home after Christina disconnected them. In addition, he said he only went to the property twice in July to retrieve personal items. When he was there on July 15, he said he was "confronted by Christina and two of her friends."
"They proceeded to follow me around while recording me with their cell phones," he said in his response. "Christina began making financial threats towards me, demanding to know how much money I intend to 'steal' from her as part of a settlement in our case."
Josh's response also stated that he went to the Newport home on August 2 to retrieve the remainder of his personal belongings, which he and Christina agreed upon through their lawyers.
"When I arrived on this date, Christina had notified the paparazzi, who were waiting for me outside the home," Josh said in his response. "Christina then spread lies through the press that she did 'not know' I would be coming to the house on that date. This can be disproved through documented communications between our lawyers, which I have reviewed."
"Unfortunately, Christina has continued to litigate our divorce case through the media, while I just wish to reach an amicable resolution, devoid of the tabloid drama," Josh said.
People published photos of Josh at the Newport Beach home, but the piece states the photos were taken on August 4, not August 2, as Josh's response states.
The Halls have a divorce hearing scheduled for October 8.
The court ordered Josh to return Christina's $35,000 — but also ordered her to pay him $100,000
A stipulation and order filed on September 4 temporarily resolved Christina's RFO and Josh's response before their divorce hearing on October 8.
The order granted Christina exclusive access to the Newport Beach and Nashville properties while allowing Josh to use their Franklin, Tennessee, home when short-term renters do not occupy it. It also gave Christina exclusive ownership over both their California and Tennessee LLCs.
The stipulation went on to state that Josh would return "the remaining funds in his possession" of the $35,000 he transferred to his personal account on July 8 and provide Christina with his accounting information for that date.
In addition, Christina agreed to send Josh $100,000 as an "uncharacterized and unallocated sum" within 48 hours of the document's filing. The stipulation says he can use the money "for any purpose, including his interim financial needs as well as attorney's fees, costs and forensic accounting fees."
HGTV has yet to announce how Christina and Josh's separation may impact "The Flip Off," but in his response filed on August 29, Josh said he believes Christina "is also seeking to have me removed from a contractual agreement we entered into for the production of a new HGTV show, 'The Flip Off.'"
Christina, Tarek, and Heather have continued to share promos for the series without Josh in recent weeks.
When paparazzi stopped Tarek and Heather on July 23, Heather said that "production is still going as planned without Josh." The El Moussas also voiced their support for Christina, E! News reported.
"We're here to support her," Heather said.
"Life's tough. Shit happens, and I think she's gonna get through this," Tarek said. "We're here to support her."